Jaw Dropper: What do you know about dental implants?

Losing a tooth is nothing to smile about, and replacing lost teeth with dentures or ill-fitting partials can, well, make you keep your mouth shut to avoid toothy mishaps. Dental implants, however, can actually bridge the gap in a very natural, comfortable way. But some factors make them worthy of a grimace more than a grin -- these things don't come easy. Know why? Take the test.

Start Quiz »

You scored

0 out of 20

Question 1 of 20

Dental implants are made of durable acrylic.

fact

fiction

Most dental implants are made with titanium posts and topped with crowns made from porcelain, ceramic or other materials.

Question 2 of 20

Implants are particularly effective for people with advanced gum disease.

fact

fiction

Individuals with gum disease are not good candidates for implants unless a periodontist -- or gum specialist -- gives the OK after gum treatment and repair. Dental implant surgery requires healthy gums and mouth tissues so the new teeth will have adequate support. Oral hygiene is also particularly important during healing to ensure that the implants succeed.

Question 3 of 20

Getting dental implant surgery involves about two months of appointments before the new artificial teeth are placed in the mouth.

fact

fiction

It can involve three to nine months or even more for bones to grow together with the implant posts and abutments before the teeth can be added on top.

Question 4 of 20

A full mouth of implants can cost more than $40,000.

fact

Individual teeth cost about $3,500 to $4,000 each, and sets of implants can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars.

fiction

Question 5 of 20

Dentures that fit over the gums and some remaining teeth are less damaging to surrounding teeth than implants.

fact

fiction

Getting traditional partial dentures often requires cutting down and putting crowns on adjacent teeth in order to attach the hardware or fasteners for the artificial appliance. Partials are prone to bacteria -- they tend to harbor it -- and they affect the surrounding teeth and crowns as well. Full dentures can irritate gum tissues if they're not fitted properly and adjusted over time. Implants actually encourage bone growth and mimic real teeth, so the gums stay healthier.

Question 6 of 20

Children who have missing permanent teeth are excellent candidates for dental implants.

fact

fiction

Dental implants are not a good idea for children or adolescents whose bones are still growing. A shifting jaw can lead to a shifting bite and movement of the implanted teeth, though sometimes orthodontics and implants can work in conjunction in young mouths.

Question 7 of 20

Local anesthesia is typically all that's needed for dental implant surgery.

fact

fiction

Dental implant surgery is invasive and involves cutting into both gums and bones, so general or sedation anesthesia are most often used. Local anesthesia may be enough for some of the later-stage tooth restoration work, though.

Question 8 of 20

Dental implants need to be replaced every seven to 10 years.

fact

fiction

Most can actually last a lifetime if they are well-maintained.

Question 9 of 20

You can't take a dental implant in and out.

fact

Because an implant is technically the post implanted into the jawbone, you won't be able to take it in and out of the fused bone. The prosthetic teeth fitted on top of the implant posts, however, often are like traditional partial dentures and can be snapped in and out.

fiction

Question 10 of 20

If you don't have jaw bones that are thick or hard enough, you cannot get dental implants.

fact

fiction

Bone grafts can add density over time and are an option for many individuals with weak bones or not enough bone surface to support an implant.

Question 11 of 20

Because it is an invasive surgery, the first part of dental implant procedures has to be done in a hospital.

fact

fiction

It can be done in a hospital or in the office of a dental specialist or surgeon.

Question 12 of 20

Osseointegration is the process of joining implanted teeth together with natural teeth for added support.

fact

fiction

Osseointegration is the process that takes place when bones grow together, or integrate with, the implanted post. After a space is drilled into the bone and a root implant goes in, the bone then starts to heal or grow up and around the new root through osseointegration.

Question 13 of 20

Insurance covers most implant procedures because they are surgical.

fact

fiction

Often coverage is a mere fraction of the total cost and it falls within dental insurance. Some companies will apply denture coverage limits to dental implant costs, however.

Question 14 of 20

An osteopathic surgeon specializes in dental implant surgery.

fact

fiction

Most of the time a maxillofacial surgeon who specializes in the jaw, mouth, face and neck is involved.

Question 15 of 20

It's important to use denture cleaners on dental implants.

fact

fiction

Fixed and removable dental implants can be brushed gently and cared for just as regular teeth and crowns.

Question 16 of 20

Dental implants do not require flossing.

fact

fiction

It is just as important to floss daily around implants as with real teeth and roots and maybe even more so as the new implant site heals.

Question 17 of 20

You will have to change your diet considerably in order to have dental implants and to keep them.

fact

fiction

Successful implants work much as natural teeth. It is a good idea to take care of them as you would crowns, though. Eating caramel corn daily is probably not the best habit -- even for natural teeth.

Question 18 of 20

Dental implants fail about 5 percent of the time.

fact

Sometimes the bone rejects the implant, and factors such as smoking and diabetes can contribute, though it's possible to try the procedure again after a failure.

fiction

Question 19 of 20

Implants are not a good idea for people who are very advanced in age.

fact

fiction

Age has less to do with implants than bone and gum health and a person's ability to practice conscientious oral hygiene.

Question 20 of 20

Dental implant surgery is only about 15 years old, so costs should start going down in five years or so.

fact

fiction

Specialists have been placing and improving implants in one form or another since about the 1950s and whether this is the decade for the price to go down remains to be seen.